From: Donna Worden [Donna_Worden@monterey.edu]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 7:57 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: re: dockets 00N-1396 and OOD-1598
DATE: March 25, 2001
TO:
FDA Commissioner Jane Henney
Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fisher's Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
SUBJECT: Dockets 00N-1396 and OOD-1598
MESSAGE:
Your proposed policies on genetically engineered (GE) foods are COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE. Despite overwhelming demand BY CITIZENS OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, your agency is proposing to continue to NOT require
safety testing and mandatory labeling for GE foods. Your "notification"
policy is an insult to consumers, and irresponsibly ignores strong
scientific evidence of numerous potential health and environmental risks
of GE foods.
Because you MUST KNOW that these "foods" could be toxic or deadly, could
cause allergic responses, could have lower nutritional value, could
compromise immune responses in consumers, and could cause irreparable
damage to the environment, is it only logical to assume that you are
acting because of BRIBERY by the corporations that manufacture these
so-called foods.
Your proposed "voluntary labeling" policy is a FARCE, which denies
citizens a basic right to know. Without mandatory labeling, neither
consumers nor health professionals will know if an allergic or toxic
reaction was the result of a genetically engineered food. Citizens also
would be deprived of the critical knowledge they would need to hold food
producers liable should any of these novel "foods" prove hazardous, as
they are likely to do.
Your proposed rules ignore serious concerns and appear to be a decision
made to convenience industry at the expense of public health and the
environment. I WILL NOT ACCEPT your attempt to make me a guinea pig of
these untested foods, and I trust you will listen to my concern, along
with that of thousands of others, and reverse your proposed FOLLY.
Sincerely,
/signed/
Donna Worden
544 Debbie Court
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
Public Health Degree candidate, May 2001